Cup toe bindings



Dec. 1, 1970 H. HVAM 3,544,122

CUP TOE BINDINGS Filed March 21, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1 KSW/ Adz/@444HJALMAR HVAM INVENTOR BUCKHORN, BLDREKLARQUIST 81 SPARKMAN ATTORNEYS H.HVAM CUP TOE BINDINGS Dec. 1, 1970 Filed March 21, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG 6 HJALMAR 'HVAM INVENTOR BUCKHORN, BLORE, KLARQUIST & SPARKMAN ZIOATTORNEYS H. HVAM CUP TOE BINDINGS Dec. 1, 1.970

5 Sheets-Sheet 3' Filed March 21, 1968 HJALMAR HVAM INVENTOR BUCKHORN,BLORE, KLARQUIST 8. SPARKMAN ATTORNEYS H. HVAM CUP TOE BINDINGS Dec. 1,1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 21, 1968- :QFIG. I3.

HJALMAR HVAM INVENTOR BUCKHORN, BLORE, KLARQUIST & SPARKMAN ATTORNEYS H.HVAM CUP TOE BINDINGS Dec. 1, 1970 Filed March' 21, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet5 BUCKHORN, BLORE, KLA RQUIST & SPARKMAN HJALMAR HVAM INVENTOR ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent Oflice US. Cl. 280-4135 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Cup toe bindings 11 and 111 have sole engaging cups pivotalon swivels and downwardly detented to the swivels more strongly than theswivels are downwardly detented to bases so that when maximum safeforces are approached the swivels pivot on the bases first and then, ifthe forces are sustained, the cups pivot on the swivels. In binding 211,a hollow swivel 221 having an integral cup portion 244 is swiveled on abase. Downwardly acting detenting pins 240 are movable in arcuate slots154, and a leaf spring 261 urges the swivel toward its operativeposition. In binding 311, a downwardly detented swivel 321 carriesdownwardly detented wings 344, cup means as an abutment being preferableto teeth means to afford larger contact and eliminating destructivescoring of the toes of the ski boots, and ease of fitting. A binding 411includes a toe engaging member 444 pivoted on swivel 421 and having anarm 478 and normally held by a detent 482 holding the arm and detents480 acting on the swivel. A binding 511 is like the binding 411 but hasa tooth cup 544. In binding 611, cup halves 644 are angularly adjustableon swivel 621.

DESCRIPTION This invention relates to cup toe bindings, and moreparticularly to safety cup toe bindings having improved detenting means.

Ski toe bindings of the triangle type having swivel means, downwarddetenting means and two sole end engaging teeth on the swivel meanspositioned on opposite sides of the center line and requiring overcenterand downward movement of the tooth and swivel means serve to hold theski boot until the overcenter movement occurs. Such bindings excellentlyhold the ski boot but have short overhanging lips which chew up the bootunless sole protectors are put on the soles. Such sole protectors aredifiicult to maintain on the soles. Cup bindings which have soleengaging members having long overhanging lips which substantially spanthe width of the sole of the ski boot also have been known and do notchew up the boot. However, such bindings either release too easily onjars or, if tightened, do not release when dangerous forces are appliedto them. It would be desirable to provide a cup binding so that the skiboot is not chewed up and also serving to hold up when there is applieda force just less than a maximum safe force and release when the maximumforce is reached.

An object of the invention is to provide improved cup toe bindings.

Another object of the invention is to provide safety cup toe bindingshaving improved detenting means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic andfeasible, safe cup toe binding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cup toe binding for askiin which the holding power of the binding is increased while a skieris executing a turn, thus providing an automatic holding power as neededfor any weight skier at any speed and to any additional stress as aresult of the centrifugal power of a high speed skier while executing aturn.

A further object of the invention is to provide cup toe bindings havingtoe engaging members of substantially the width of the ski boot and alsohaving downwardly acting detenting structures which resist release whenstrong holdmg forces are required as during turns while releasingreadily when forces approaching the maximum safe force are applied.

The invention provides cup ski bindings each including a base fixed tothe ski and swivel means provided with a cup portion at one end forengaging a ski boot. The swivel.

means is mounted on the base for horizontal pivotal movement relative tothe base and is movable vertically relative to the base against theforce of a spring. Detent means located under the base holds the arm ina holding position and applies an increased holding force to the armwhen the arm is pressed upwardly relative to the base. In a bindingforming one specific embodiment of the invention, the cup portion isvertically adjustable relative to the base, and is pivoted on anddownwardly detented to a swivel pivotal on and downwardly detented tothe base, the cup portion being detented to the swivel more strong- 1ythan the detenting of the swivel to the base so that, in a release, theswivel pivots on the base before the cup portion pivots. A bindingforming an alternate specific embodiment of the invention includes a cupintegral with a swivel and detented to a base by pins havingfrustoconical heads normally seated in socket portions in the base, thepins being movable along arcuate slots in the base when a releaseoccurs. Leaf springs urge the swivel toward its normal position. Abinding forming another specific embodiment of the invention includeswings forming two cup halves which are pivotal on arms which areadjustable for height and are downwardly detented to a swivel which ispivoted on and downwardly detented to a base. A binding forming anotherspecific'embodiment of the invention includes a pair of wings detentedto a swivel in adjustable angular positions.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from thefollowing detailed description of cup toe bindings forming specificembodiments thereof, when read in conjunction with the appendeddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a ski having thereon a cup toebinding forming one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional views takenalong lines 22 and 33 of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a ski having thereon a cup toe bindingforming an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a cup toe binding forming an alternateembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the bindof FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a ski having thereon a cuptoe binding forming an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are vertical sectional views taken along lines 1111 and1212, respectively, of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a toe having thereon a toebinding forming an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views taken respectively along lines 14-14 and 1515of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, partially sectional top plan view of a cup toebinding forming an alternate embodiment of the invention;

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 I FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a cup toe bindingforming an alternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the binding of FIG.17.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3a ski having thereon a cup ski binding 11 against which the forward edgeof a sole 12 of a ski boot 13 is urged forwardly by a heel binding (notshown). The toe binding 11 includes an arm or swivel 21 which normallyoccupies a directly rearwardly extending position, as illustrated infull lines in FIG. 1, and when maximum safe lateral thrust is applied tothe free end of the arm 21, will swing to one of the broken linepositions of the arm 21 to release the ski boot. The arm 21 is pivotedon a base 22 fastened to the ski by screws 23, and is downwardlydetented relative to the base in its normal or full line position asshown in FIG. 1 as is described in detail hereinbelow. The detentingpower holding the arm 21 in its normal, rearwardly extending position isincreased when the arm is in a slightly raised position relative to thebase 22.

The arm 21 has a central shaft journaled and slidable in bore 32. Aspring 34 urges upwardly the shaft and a detent washer 36 havingupwardly projecting, rounded detents 38 to seat the detents in sockets40 when the arm is in its normal, rearwardly extending position; To moveto its release position, the arm must move downwardly as cammed by thedetents 38.

The arm 21 has at its rear end upper and lower arcuate flanges 41 and 42and a semi-cylindrical bore or groove 43. A sole-engaging toe cup 44 hasan overhanging lip 46 and an arcuate sole end engaging portion 48substantially at least as long as the width of the sole for receivingtherein the toe end of the sole. The cup has a T-shaped portion 50fitting in an undercut guideway 52 in a mount 54 having an arcuategroove 56 receiving arcuate flange 42 and slidable in and rotatable inthe groove 43. An adjustment screw 60 having a groove 62 receiving anarcuate rib 64 of the mount and the cup respectively is rotatable in asmooth semi-cylindrical groove 68 in the mount and meshes with threadsin a semi-cylindrical groove 70 in the cup to adjust the cup verticallyrelative to the mount. The head of the screw bears against a cuppedSpring washer 72 pressing against a washer-like plate splined to themount 54 by pins 74 passing through bores 76 in the washer. The washerhas an arcuate flange hooking over the upper flange 40 of the arm. Anupwardly extending wedge-like detent 80 normally extends intocomplementary, slightly shallower, detenting notch 82 in the lowerflange. Upward force on the lip 48 tends to hold the detent 80 in thenotch 82. However, maximum safe lateral force on the ski boot swings thecup 44, the mount 54 and the washer on the arm 21 to release the bootfrom the binding. Similarly, the maximum safe lateral force swings thearm 21 about the base 22. The detent 80 gives a stronger detenting forcethan the detents 38 so that, during a release, the arm 21 first turnsand then the cup turns on the arm if the maximum safe lateral force issustained.

In executing a turn, the skier tends to twist his ski boot 13 about agenerally horizontal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe ski. This applies a strong lifting force to the lip 46 of the arm 21and holds the arm strongly detented. Thus, the arm 21 is detentedagainst releasing movement with one force when there is no appreciableupward force on the lip 46, which is the condition during falling, andis held against such releasing movement with a much stronger force whenthere is a substantial upward force on the lip 46 as is needed duringexecution of a turn. Stated in other words, during execution of a turn,there is a high force urging the ski boot laterally of the ski and thetoe binding, and also there is a high force from the ski boot solepressing the arm 21 upwardly. This upward force results from thetendency of the ski boot to twist generally about its longitudinal axisduring execution of the turn. These forces are not dangerous to theskier, and it is desirable that the ski boot be held strongly by the toebinding at this time, and the cup binding does this by making the strongdetenting power effective during turning. However, whenever the skier isfalling, it is essential that the ski boot be released before thehighest non-dangerous or maximum safe force is exceeded. During fallingthere is no great upward thrust on the arm 21 and the arm and the cuprelease before a dangerously high force is reached.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 4 TO 6 A cup toe ski binding 111 forming analternate embodiment of the invention mounted on ski includes an arm orswivel 112, a base 122, a rigid locking and detenting Washer 136 likethe washer 36 and a compression spring 134. The arm includes a shaft towhich is keyed the detenting washer 136 having downward acting detents138 identical in structure to the detents 38, and fitting in detentingsockets 140.

A sole-engaging toe cup 144 having an overhanging lip 146 and an arcuatesole end-engaging portion 148 is pressed up against arcuate flange 150by a cupped spring washer 152 on a screw 154 extending through a bore156 in the cup 144 and mounting the cup pivotally on the arm 122 with aretaining nut 158. The spring Washer 152 normally holds detents on thecup in detenting sockets 182 in the flange 150 to hold the cup normallyin a rearwardly facing position. The cup 144 is detented more stronglyto the swivel than the swivel is detented to the base so that, in arelease, the swivel turns on the base before the cup turns on theswivel.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 7 TO 9 A cup toe binding 211 forming an alternateembodiment of the invention has a cupped base 222 and a cupped bottomcover 223 secured to a ski 210 by screws 224. A swivel or arm 221 has ahollow body portion 225 mounted pivotally and slidably on a headed post226 fixed to the base 222. The arm 221 has an integral cup portion 244including an arcuate lip or flange 246 adapted to overhang a sole 212 ofa ski boot 213 when the toe end of the sole abuts an arcuate or cuppedsole end-engaging portion 248. The cup portion 244 is at leastsubstantially as long as the width of the boot sole on the toe.

When a maximum safe lateral force is applied by the boot 232 to the cupportion 244 of the arm 221, the arm is cammed downwardly relative to theski by detent rivets or pins 240 having heads 241 and frustoconicaldetenting portions 242 fitting in frustoconical detenting socket orcountersunk portions 243 of arcuate slots 254 in the base 222. The slots254 are centered on the post 226. The pins 240 extend through bores 245and 256 (FIG. 8) in the hollow body portion 225, and cupped springwashers 258 positioned between the base and bottom plate 249 of thehollow body portion 225 of the arm 221 urge the arm 221 upwardly to seatthe detenting portions 242 in the socket portions 243 when the pins 240are aligned with the socket portions 243. Thus, the cup toe binding 211has a downward detented action so that it securely holds the ski bootwhen the boot presses hard upwardly on the lip 231 as during fast turns,and releases the ski boot when abnormally high lateral forces areapplied to the cup 244 by the ski boot. Bowed leaf springs 261 (FIGS. 8and 9) are secured to the pins 240 and secured to tabs 2 65 of the base222 by loop portions 263. The leaf springs normally urge the swivel toits holding position, and return the swivel to this position after arelease is effected. The springs 261 are not strong enough to haveany'appreciable effect in resisting a release.

EMBODIMENT OF 'FIGS. 10 TO 12 A cup toe binding .311 forming analternate embodiment of the invention includes a base 322 secured byscrews 324 to a ski 310. An arm or swivel 321 has a shaft portion 330like the shaft portion 30 and journaled to the base and slidablevertically to a limited extent relative to the base 322. Downwarddetents 338 like the detents 38 give a downward detenting action to thearm as release is effected, that is, as the arm is swung from itsnormal, directly rearwardly extending position the detents 338 must camthe arm downwardly before any appreciable releasing movement can occur.

Shoes 344 form a cup to engage and trap a sole 312 of a ski boot 313.Each shoe has an arcuate overhanging lip 331 and a toothed sole endengaging portion 334. Each shoe is secured pivotally to a verticaladjusting screw 333 mounted by arms of a fork 335 of an arm 350. Thearms 350 are mounted between upper and lower clevis portions 354 and 356of the arm 321. Each arm 350 is slidable and pivotal on a rivet 360 andis urged upwardly by a cupped washer 362 to seat a detent 364 in adetent socket 366 in the portion 354 when the wing is in its normal orholding position. The detenting strength of each detent 364 and socket366 is stronger than the detenting strength of the detents 338 so thatwhen an abnormally high lateral force, approaching the maximum safeforce, is applied to the binding by the ski boot, the detents 330firstrelease and then, if the force is sustained, the detent 364releases. When both sets of detents are broken, the release of the skiboot toe from the abutment is instantaneous because the whole swivelabutment moves in a forward arc.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 13 TO 15 A toe binding 411 forming an alternateembodiment includes a base 422 secured by screws 424 to a ski 410. Anarm or swivel 421 is threaded onto and freely pivotal on a vertical,threaded post or arbor 430 fixed rigidly to the base 422. A soleengaging member 444 has an overhanging lip 431 and vertical ridges orteeth 433 spaced at equal distances from the centerline of the member444 for engaging the toe end of the sole of the ski boot. The member 444has a fork 445 loosely receiving an end portion 447 of the swivel andpivotally secured to the end portion 447 by a screw 456 screwed into avertical tapped bore 457 in the upper arm of the fork 445 and rotatableand slightly pivotal in a bore 459 in the swivel 421. A cupped washer452 positioned between the upper arm of the fork and the end portion 447presses the member 444 upwardly to bring downwardly camming detents 480on the bottom arm of the fork 445 into shallower sockets 481 in theswivel 421 to normally hold the member 444 in a boot holding position. Adetent 482 on the swivel normally projects into socket 483 in a long armportion 478 of the member 444. To release, the detent 482 cams theforward end of the arm portion 478 upwardly, as permitted by the loosefit of the screw 456 in the bore 459. This and the downward detentingaction of the detents 480, move the lip 431 downwardly before a releaseoccurs.

The cup member 444 and the swivel 421 are, in effect, a single rigid armuntil the maximum safe lateral force is applied to the ski boot. Thenthe member 444 is pivoted on the swivel 421 to release the boot, thedetents 480 camming the member 444 downwardly and the detent 482 pivotsthe member 444 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 14, before there is anyappreciable releasing movement, this being the natural result of theleverage because the detents 480 are located slightly forward of thecenterline of the. screw 456 in the bore 459.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 16

A cup toe binding 611 forming an alternate embodiment of the inventionis identical to the binding 411 except that a cup 544 of the binding 511is wider than the member 444 and is cup shaped with a large number ofvertical sole end engaging ribs 533. The ribs 533 securely engage sole512 of ski boot -13 to prevent sidewise slipping.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 17 AND 18 A cup toe binding 11 forming an alternateembodiment of the invention includes a base 622 fixed to a ski 610 byscrews 624 and a swivel or arm 621 mounted pivotally on the base by apost 630. Downward detents 638 cam the swivel and toe engaging cuphalves 644 downwardly relative to the base when a high lateral force isreached. Then, when a slightly higher, maximum safe lateral force isapproached, one of detents 680 in one of detent sockets 6 81 in one ofarms 633 of the cup halves 644 cams that arm downwardly as that armbreaks away from its detented position relative to the swivel 621. Eachcuphalf 644 includes a cupped toe engaging member 650 including a lip652 and an arcuate, vertical sole end engaging portion 654 havingadjustment slots 6% with upper and lower countersunk portions 658 and660 for receiving heads of flatheaded screws 662 screwed into tappedholes 664 in the arms 63-3. By loosening the screws, the members 650 canbe adjusted from an upper position to a lower position, or vice versa,and the screws retightened. The arms 633 are pivotal on screws 670 fixedto forked or clevis portions 672, and cupped spring washers 674- urgethe arms 633 upwardly to detented positions.

There is only one detent 680 on each clevis portion 672 while there area plurality of detent sockets 682. This construction permits the arms633 to be adjusted to inner positions for narrow ski boots and to outerpositions for wide ski boots, the cup halves 144 preferably beingadjusted to positions substantially spanning the ski boot. If desired,the detents 680 and the sockets 681 may be located around the screws 670 from the positions disclosed in FIG. 17. Or, as an alternative,detents and sockets like the detents 6'80 and sockets 681 may be placedto the rear of the pins 670 in addition to the detents 680 and sockets681 to double detenting eifect.

The above described cup toe bindings provide one holding force forskiing and provide a much increased holding force while normal turningoccurs. They also inherently increase the detenting force while anylifting force is applied to the lips. The bindings are very rugged anddurable, and have minimum numbers of parts.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cup toe binding,

a base adapted to be secured to a ski,

swivel means including a swivel and a cup means pivotal on the swivelabout a first verticalaxis for encircling the toe end of a sole of a skiboot to prevent lateral movement of the sole relative to the cup andhaving an overhanging lip means,

means mounting the swivel pivotally on the base about a second verticalaxis spaced laterally from the first vertical axis,

and detent means between the cup means and the swivel means for movingthe lip means downwardly relative to the base during releasing movementof the swivel means.

2. The binding of claim 1 including means for adjusting the lip towardand away from the base.

3. In a cup toe binding,

ajbase adapted to be secured to a cki,

swivel means including a swivel and a cup means for encircling the toeend of a sole of a ski boot to prebent lateral movement of the solerelative to the cup and having an overhanging lip means,

means mounting the swivel pivotally on the base,

detent means between the cup means and the swivel for moving the lipmeans downwardly relative to the base during releasing movement of theswivel means, the swivel comprising an arm and including post means onthe base mounting the arm pivotally thereon, and means mounting the cupmeans pivotally on the arm. 4. The cup toe binding of claim 3 whereinthe post means comprises a threaded post and the arm includes a tappedbore screwed onto the post to provide vertical adjustment of the arm.

5. The cup toe binding of claim 3 wherein the detent means is betweenthe arm and the cup means.

6. The cup toe binding of claim 5 wherein the cup means is one piece andincludes an arm portion normally held by the detent means in a. positionoverlying the arm.

7. The cup toe binding of claim 6 wherein the detent means is positionedat the ends of the arm and the arm portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,858,137 10/1958 Marker 28011.353,265,400 8/1966 Hvam 28011.35

3,282,599 11/1966 Hvam 28011.35

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner J. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 4, 1 2 DatedDecember 1, 1970 Inventor(s) Hjalmar Hvam It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

In the specification:

Column 1, line 18, "154" should be 254 Column 5, line 69, "611" shouldbe 511 Column 6, line 2, "11" should be 611 and In the claims:

Column 6, line 68, "cki" should be ski bi'QNED AND 3mm m2 191! Q Anewsum-1m n. mum, Ii Attesfing Officer Gomzissioner of Patent:

